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Questions at the Garden of Gethsemane, Mount of Olives
McCOOK, Nebraska -- A visit to the garden of Gethsemane on the Mount of Olives evokes many hard questions, including perhaps the most poignant question of all, "why?"
The Rev. Gary Brethour, pastor at St. Patrick's Catholic Church and the inaugural speaker at the 2011 Community Lenten Service Friday at First Congregational Church in McCook, addressed a community congregation of 83, with the "why" questions of the suffering of the Christ, first in the Garden, then following through to the cross.
"God could have just willed that things be made right," Brethour said, speaking about man's fallen condition and his need of salvation. "Why this way, this way of suffering?"
Reading the Gospel account found in Luke 22:39-53, Brethour marveled at the depth of suffering Jesus experienced in just that short space of time.
Jesus knew he was betrayed.
Did he also feel the weight of every man's sin, past, present and future?, Brethour wondered.
Was his burden made heavier still by the knowledge that some would still refuse salvation, refuse forgiveness, refuse to see the Son of God who had come to save?
His friends had fallen asleep. The weight of betrayal, disappointment and distress was his alone to bear.
When the soldiers arrive, Peter reaches for his sword and cuts off a man's ear. Jesus touches the man and he is instantaneously healed.
"Even in the face of that miracle, witnessing Christ's majesty, his divinity, still the soldiers seize him," Brethour said. Thus the long night of the trial, the scourging and the path to the cross begins with yet another disappointment.
"Have we walked away?" Brethour asked. "Have we fallen asleep?"
What is more distressing to Jesus?, he asked. That we've fallen asleep or that we too are completely indifferent to all that he has done, is doing or will do?
"So, why this way?," Brethour wondered. "Why, when with the snap of his finger, God could have set the whole world back to right."
We're not going to get Paradise back, Brethour explained. Once sin entered the world, everything turned upside down.
Nevertheless, God desires a relationship with his crowning creation, man. Jesus' willingness to suffer not only teaches us how to endure the suffering that comes to each of us, he uses it to transform our fallen human nature. He takes the crosses in our own lives and makes it possible for us to be changed through them.
"It's the process of 'redemptive suffering,' Brethour explained. When we are betrayed, we know that Jesus endured betrayal.
When we are the betrayer, we know that Jesus forgives.
When we are alone, with no one to help bear our burdens, we see Jesus in the garden and we know we're not alone. He has been where we are and he is with us even now, in that loneliness.
"In his suffering, Jesus shows us the love of God," Brethour said, "It is his invitation to us to be in relationship with him, to let him transform us through our suffering."
Jesus' suffering also teaches us not only that we're not alone in our suffering, but that suffering has meaning, it has purpose. His suffering had purpose, his suffering had meaning, and so can ours.
The season of Lent provides a unique opportunity to slow down, to focus on the Passion of the Lord and see the miracle of his love demonstrated in his suffering.
"Ask now, 'What can I learn?' Brethour said, "How do I live this out? How can I be courageous, even when faced with suffering?
"Ask, what do we do with our own betrayals, when we are the betrayers?
"Ask for mercy," Brethour said, "seek forgiveness, it will be granted."
Brethour closed with a prayer that the assembly would have faith to see the many miracles and wonders of God's love, thereby finding grace, mercy, healing and courage in his love.
The Rev. Steve Bales, pastor at First Congregational Church, served as the worship leader. Karen Lieske served on the organ and the ladies from St. Patrick's served the luncheon.
The Lenten services continue at 12:05 p.m., Friday, March 18, at First Congregational with the Rev. Jon Albrecht, pastor at McCook Harvest Church, presenting the lesson on "Peter Denies knowing Jesus."
An offering to support the work of the Red Willow County Ministerial Association is accepted at the entrance to the sanctuary. An offering to offset the cost of providing the luncheon is accepted in the fellowship hall.